Selvage forming device for looms, more particularly in circular looms



Nov. 30, 1965 A. MALCHAIR SELVAGE FORMING DEVICE FOR LOOMS. MORE PARTICULARLY IN CIRCULAR LOOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 13 1963 INVENTOR. A./ /a/c/7U.L'r

BY @Ldmribfg ATTORNESS 30, 1965 A. MALCHAIR SELVAGE FORMING DEVICE FOR LOOMS. MORE PARTICULARLY IN CIRCULAR LOOMS Filed March 12, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllll l l I l l l l I I l l I llllllr. HP hh HHHHHIHH PHHHHHHHHHU IH II x l I I l HI HHHHI HI Hh F l lH-Hl hl l l lllF-J INVENTOR. A M Cl c: /1 Q L I BY WM ATTQ rkNEss Nov. 30, 1965 A. MALCHAIR 3,220,440

SELVAGE FORMING DEVICE FOR LOOMS, MORE PARTICULARLY IN CIRCULAR LOOMS Filed March 12, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 P, x X X ia 5 X8 EM 4 H 17 E g F7 19 .Ez'gfffl INVENTOR. A.MU.C7CLL'F G ILJA-MQf gg ATTOKNESS Nov. 30, 1965 A. MALCHAIR 3,220,440

SELVAGE FORMING DEVICE FOR LOOMS. MORE PARTICULARLY IN CIRCULAR LOOMS Filed March 12, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

A. NcL/chcu'r A'ri-omue-ag United States Patent 3,220,440 'SELVAGE FORMING DEVICE FOR LOOMS, MORE PARTICULARLY IN CIRCULAR LOOMS Armand Malchair, Herstal, Belgium, assignor to Societe Anonyme Iwan Simonis, S.A., Verviers, Belgium, a

company Filed Mar. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 264,519 Claims priority, application Belgium, Mar. 15, 1962, 47,474, Patent 615,133 Claims. (Cl. 139-54) This invention relates to a simple selvage device to form mock lists either on the width of a straight loom or along one or several generating lines of the tubular fabric produced on a circular loom.

The mock list is well known in the art. It is essentially characterized by the cooperation with the weft threads of at least a so called fixed warp thread and at least one so called turning warp thread, the latter interlacing between the said fixed warp thread and the adjoining portions of the successive warp threads.

These interlacings may be repeated according to the desired width to be given to the mock list. One or several turning threads may be thereby applied for each mock list.

Generally, the prior art devices for carrying out such mock lists are very complicated or relatively bulky or still they are limiting strictly the strength of the mock list to nor more than two turning threads.

The apparatus forming the object of the invention is characterized in that it is very simple, little bulky and of a systematical operation produced by a minimum number of moving parts, which cannot get out of order. In addition, it has the prevalent characteristics of allowing the application of a substantially undetermined number of turning threads in such manner that this apparatus allows to meet all the conditions required and exigible from a mock list, namely in accordance with the fabrics being produced and the nature of the woven threads.

In addition, without limiting its utilisation field, the apparatus according to the invention is particularly designed to be provided on circular looms, in which the relatively narrow heddle frames are stepped along the side annular track of the shuttle holding shoe.

Substantially the apparatus of the invention comprises as known at least two fixed thread locating needles and at least two turning thread shifting needles. The former are integral with a front heddle frame and the latter are made integral with a bracket secured to a rear heddle frame. In his way, the said needles follow the linear movements of their respective heddle frames.

I The bracket of the turning thread shifting needles is such that it allows the needles being shifted transversally in a reciprocating motion.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, these transverse shiftings of the bracket of the turning thread shifting needles are produced by the cooperation of two similar forked guiding paths in front of each other but in inverted positions and a sliding finger integral with the bracket of the said needles and a means engaging alternatively the said sliding finger with the one and the other of the said guiding paths.

There is thereby obtained a positive drive operating systematically without likelihood of getting out of order with a minimum wear without any weakness. In addition, the said guiding paths are advantageous in that they are stationary and very stable. They generally comprise rectangular laths, a face of which is provided with grooves determining the side movements of the needles. The means allowing the systematical transfer of the slid ing finger from a guiding path to the other is also simple and cannot get out of order. It consists of linings having a progressively increasing thickness and inserted at suitable points into the said grooves of the guiding paths. Thus, these linings function as cams shifting progressively axially the said sliding finger.

The apparatus of the present invention may be of course realized under very variable embodiments in accordance with the sizes, the profile and the relative position of the different components described herein. This apparatus will be fitted to the number of the turning thread needles as welllas to the magnitude of the side movements being imparted to the needles. However, without any limitating sense, a preferred embodiment will be described hereafter in further details with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear view of the selvage device according to the invention, as applied to the heddle frames of a circular loom;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along line IIIIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the guiding element of the selvage forming device according to the invention;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are partial perspective views illustrating schematically the guiding element and its functions; FIG. 5 is a section along the line V-V of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURES 7 to 10 are diagrams illustrating schematically the successive paths followed by the arm of a turning thread needle.

The selvage forming device according to the present invention comprises two needles 1 and 2, for locating the fixed threads, which are integral with a front heddle frame 3. Needles 4 and 5, determining the movements of the turning threads, are connected with a heddle frame 6 by means of a carriage bracket forming an essential part of the apparatus according to the invention.

On the other hand, the heddle frames 3 and 6 are of known construction and carry out their vertical reciprocating motion by known means.

The carriage bracket comprises crossheads 9 and 10 which are firmly secured through screws and bolts 11 and 12 on rods 7 and 8, forming a part of the fastening and driving means of the rear heddle frames 6. A U-shaped bracket 13 is integral with the crossheads. An axle 14 held by pins 15 and- 16 is carried by the side walls of the member 13. A slide 17 which is U-shaped in plane section is sli-dably mounted upon the axle 14. One of the extended side legs of the slide 17 has a head 18 extending substantially parallel to the axle 14. The axle 14 is enclosed by a sleeve 19 located between the two side legs of the U-shaped portion of the slide 17. The needles 4 and 5 are fixed between the sleeve 19 and the corresponding part of the slide. A spacer 20 is inserted between the slide and the corresponding part of the bracket 13 to which it is fixed, to prevent rotation of this moving equipment about the axe 14. A cross finger 21, the length of which is slightly greater than the thickness of the head 18 may slide in the slide head 18 with a free fit.

The finger 21 may be secured in its position by any known wedging means, such as a ball combined with a thrust spring and a slight depression. This wedging means is well known and is not shown in the drawings.

A bracket 22 is secured by screws 23 and 24 on a stationary part 25 of the loom, perpendicularly to the head 18. This bracket has a recess 26, which is U-shaped in cross section and in which both guiding paths are provided. These latter are formed by opposite bars 27 and 28. On their opposite faces, the bars are provided with similar grooves, which, however, are inverted with respect to each other. The bars carry along their entire height a linear groove 29 or 30, respectively, and along a portion of their height a second groove 31 or 32, respectively, which extends parallel to the first groove; between the panallel grooves 29 and 31, and 30 and 32, there is an inclined connecting groove 33 or 34, respectively. All these grooves have the same depth. However, the upper section of the linear grooves 29 and 30 is provided with a lining 35 or 36, respectively. These linings have a section the thickness of which is at least equal to the depth of the groove with which it is engaged, followed by a section having a progressively decreasing thickness to form a continuous inclined plane from the bottom of the grooves.

The diameter of the cross finger 21 is slightly less than the width of the grooves 29 to 32 \and the length of the projecting portion of the finger 21 with respect to the head 18 in which it slides, is substantially equal to the depth of said grooves.

Both bars 27 and 28 are spaced in such manner that the head 18 may slide therebetween with a free fit or without any contact.

The described selvage device operates substantially as follows:

The function of the needles 1 and 2 is well known and consists in holding the correct position of the fixed threads of the mock list being realized. For example, when starting, the device is in top position. In this position the point P1 corresponding to the eye of the needle 4 is in top position at the left handof the virtual plane X-X, which is in a plane passing through the needle 1 of the corresponding fixed threads (FIG. 7).

The bracket, respectively the cross finger 21', is in the position represented in full lines in FIGURE 5. As the heddle frame 3 is lowered, the point P1 describes the path represented diagrammatically in FIGURE 7. Then the point P1 becomes the point disposed symmetrically at the right hand of said virtual plane X-X.

The deviation of the path from point P1 to point P2 has been produced by the engagement of the cross finger in the forkable groove 31 and 33, the finger moving laterally the slide 17 along the axle 14.

In this manner, at the end of its stroke, the cross finger was both at the end of the forkable groove 31 and 33 and at the beginnng of the continuous groove 29 provided on its upper section with an inclined lining 35. In the following step of the operating cycle, the heddle frame 3 and all the members integral therewith havebeen moved upwardly. No translation movement has been imparted to the slide 17, since the cross finger 21 has followed continuously the linear groove 29, point P2 becoming point P3 (FIG. 8). However, in that position, the cross finger 21 has been shifted axially by the inclined lining 35. It has slide in the head 18 and it is engaged at its other end with the forkable groove 32 and 34 of the bar 28, as represented in FIGURE 6.

In the following lowering movement of the heddle frame 3 and the members integral therewith, point P3 has become point P4 by following the path represented in FIGURE 9, since the cross finger 21 is guided through the forked groove 32 and 34.

Finally, in the following rising movement of the frame 3, the point P4 has followed the linear path represented in FIGURE 10, the cross finger 21 being guided through the continuous linear groove 30. However, in the upper portion of said groove, the finger again has been driven back axially by the inclined lining 36 to set the assembly into the initial condition, i.e. in the position of point P1. In this manner, the turning threads are alternately led to the left and the right hand of the fixed thread during the shed, thereby producing systematically and quite regularly the needed interlacings, each interlacing corresponding to the working of a turning thread needle cooperating with the working of a fixed thread needle and, of course, the weft threads.

It is apparent that this invention is not strictly limited to this mechanical combination or to the parts represented by way of example, since these various parts and the mechanisms of which they form part may be replaced by any part or mechanism, which is similar or has a similar function, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention. In fact, the latter covers any means for positively driving the side movements of the turning thread needles from guides or stationary guiding paths and between the latter, a driving means for the bracket of the said needles.

The invention covers the apparatus as such as an individual mechanism as well as the characteristical parts thereof and straight or circular looms, to which this apparatus is applied.

What I claim is:

1. A selvage forming device for a loom having a vertically reciprocable front heddle frame, a vertically reciprocable rear heddle frame, at least two needles integral with said front heddle frame and two needles for said rear heddle frame, said selvage forming device comprising in combination: a slide engaging the two secondmentioned needles, an axle connected with said rear heddle frame, said slide being mounted with a free fit on said axle fora movement transverse to the movements of said heddle frames and having a head and a portion of substantially U-shaped cross-section, a leg of which being connected with said head; two members guiding and limiting the transverse movement of said slide, said head beinglocated between said two members; a transfer finger extending through said head; a sleeve enclosing the portion of said axle located between the two legs of said U- shaped portion of the slide, the two second-mentioned needles fitting between said sleeve and the corresponding portion of the slide, and a spacer interposed between said slide and the corresponding portion of said axle connected with the rear heddle frame for preventing the rotation of said slide about said axis.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said loom comprises rods supporting and entraining said rear heddle,

frame in its vertical reciprocating movements, and two crossheads secured on said rods, said device comprising a bracket integral with one of the two crossheads and having side walls supporting said axle.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the two members guiding and limiting the transverse movement of the slide comprise sets of identical grooves, the grooves of the two sets being disposed in front of each other in an inverted position, said head of the slide moving between the groove sets, said transfer finger engaging successively the one and the other set.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein each of said groove sets consists of a first linear groove extending the whole height of the linear path of the needles, a second groove extending from the top a part of the distance of the first groove and a third groove connecting the lower portion of the second groove with an intermediate point of the first groove, thereby forming a linear groove and a forked groove,

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the two continuous grooves extending the entire vertical path of the needles comprise in their upper portion a lining having a section having a constant thickness at least equal to the depth of said grooves, and a continuing section having a progressively decreasing thickness to "form an. inclined 5 6 plane from the bottom of the groove with which said 1,762,717 6/1930 Herring 139-53 linings are engaged. 2,830,623 4/ 1958 Masson et a1 13954 2,918,945 12/1959 Hall 139-54 References Cited y the Examiner 3,047,027 7/1962 Svaty et a1 139-54 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 3,133,560 5/1964 Arnold et a1 139-54 584,576 6/1897 Crutchlow 139-54 1,226,361 5/1917 Niederwerfer "139-54 DONALD PARKER P Examm 1,568,020 12/1925 Grifiith 139-53 RUSSELL C-MADEKExammer- 

1. A SELVAGE FORMING DEVICE FOR A LOOM HAVING A VERTICALLY RECIPROCABLE FRONT HEDDLE FRAME, A VERTICALLY RECIPROCABLE REAR HEDDLE FRAME, AT LEAST TWO NEEDLES INTEGRAL WITH SAID FRONT HEDDLE FRAME AND TWO NEEDLES FOR SAID REAR HEDDLE FRAME, SAID SELVAGE FORMING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A SLIDE ENGAGING THE TWO SECONDMENTIONED NEEDLES, AN AXLE CONNECTED WITH SAID REAR HEDDLE FRAME, SAID SLIDE BEING MOUNTED WITH A FREE FIT ON SAID AXLE FOR A MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO THE MOVEMENTS OF SAID HEDDLE FRAMES AND HAVING A HEAD AND A PORTION OF SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, A LEG OF WHICH BEING CONNECTED WITH SAID HEAD; TWO MEMBERS GUIDING AND LIMITING THE TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDE, SAID HEAD BEING LOCATED BETWEEN SAID TWO MEMBERS; A TRANSFER FINGER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HEAD; A SLEEVE ENCLOSING THE PORTION OF SAID AXLE LOCATED BETWEEN THE TWO LEGS OF SAID USHAPED PORTION OF THE SLIDE, THE TWO SECOND-MENTIONED NEEDLES FITTING BETWEEN SAID SLEEVE AND THE CORRESPONDING PORTION OF THE SLIDE, AND A SPACER INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID SLIDE AND THE CORRESPONDING PORTION OF SAID AXLE CONNECTED WITH THE REAR HEDDLE FRAME FOR PREVENTING THE ROTATION OF SAID SLIDE ABOUT SAID AXIS. 